Holland shows interest in building seaports

The Netherlands has shown its interest in construction of seaports in Chittagong and Paira in Patuakhali.

At another meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the former requested more investment in the Special Economic Zone allocated for Japan.

Meanwhile, non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in the United Kingdom have showed interest to invest in Bangladesh in different sectors, including IT and pharmaceuticals.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed interest in the construction during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the 70th UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the two leaders discussed various issues relating to mutual interests.

Sheikh Hasina said Paira area is very suitable for a deep seaport and the government was interested to start construction of the port as soon as possible. She said the Netherlands can cooperate with Bangladesh in the areas of river dredging, land reclamation, flood control and natural disaster management.

The two prime ministers also discussed progress in preparing the "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100" which is being formulated in cooperation with the Dutch government.

Sheikh Hasina informed Mark Rutte that she would visit the Netherlands very soon. The Dutch premier highly appreciated Bangladesh's impressive progress in the socioeconomic field and efficiency in flood control.

JAPAN

The Japanese prime minister noted that the cooperation between the two countries has been enhanced further at bilateral and multilateral levels following his visit to Bangladesh.

Lauding Bangladesh's progress in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he said Bangladesh and Japan would work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The two prime ministers also discussed the progress of the mega projects being implemented in Bangladesh with the support of Japan.

NON-RESIDENT BANGLADESHIS

The Bangladeshis expressed the interest when a delegation of Conservatives Friends of Bangladesh (CFOB) led by chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Bangladesh, Anne Main, made a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban yesterday.

During the meeting, the president said a huge number of Bangladeshis regularly visit the UK and the visa was processed from New Delhi, which was time consuming, the president's press secretary, Joynal Abedin, told the news agency.

Abdul Hamid urged the delegation to take steps so that the visa could be processed from Bangladesh.

Both the president and the head of the delegation underscored the need for exchanging business delegations between Bangladesh and the UK to increase investment and trade for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

The delegation observed that Bangladesh was doing well in some sectors but it was not highlighted properly outside Bangladesh. If the achievements are properly projected, Bangladesh will be able to attract more investment, the delegation added.

They said they would open a sports academy in Bangladesh.